Die for uniting materials



Feb. 4, 1958 A. WILLIAMS 2,821,876

DIE FOR UNITiNG MATERIALS 7 Filed June 1, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. W Ivan AVViHiaI-ns BY F .1. W

Feb. 4, 1958 I. A. WILLIAMS DIE FOR UNITING MATERIALS 2 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed June 1, 1953 IyVEAfTOR. Ivan AVVJ 111a ms 2,821,876 mn ron UNITINGMATERIA'LS Ivan A. Williams lortland,Oreg.

Application June 1,1953,'Scrial"No. 358,618

13 Claims. v(Cl. 78-1) Thisinvention relates to a die for uniting materials. and particularly pertains to a die forfuse in uniting overlapped portions of metal sheets by'forming an integral'fastener therethrough.

The presently described die is an'irnproved form of' the die disclosed in my U. S. Letters Patent 2,254,558; issued December 2, 19 41, forFaste'ning Element andMethod of Making the Same and in'my U. S. letters Patent 2,288,308, issued June 30, 1942, for Punch'and Die.

This die, like those disclosed in the aforesaid Letters Patent, is designed for use together with a punch in uniting overlying pieces of material. In use, the punch and die operate to form spaced incisions entirelythrough both thicknesses of the material. Next the sections of the material between the incisions are deformedi'n the direction of motion of the advancing punch until substantial portions lie beyondthe plane of that surface-of the material which is adjacent the die. This deformation is accompanied by bending and stretching of portions of the material at the end Zones betweenthe spaced'incisions in a pattern conforming to the shape of the punch.

The central sections of the deformed portions then are pressed against the anvil of the die by the punch with the result that they are extruded laterally. in this manner there are formed laterally extending keys which span the incisions and engage the undisplaced material on each side thereof, preventing retraction of the deformed material through the opening between the incisions. As a re sult, the pieces of material are locked together securely.

In the foregoing procedure for forming integral fasteners, the presently described die has several important advantages.

In the first place, itmay quickly be adapted for use in fastening together overlapped sheets of a wide range of thicknesses. Second, the cutting elements of the die are held securely against longitudinal and lateral displacement. Third, the die is of such a construction that the work is readily removed therefrom after conclusion of the formation of the fastening elements. Fourth, its operation is positive and precise,'forming particularly-ethcient fasteners through the overlying sheets ef-rnaterial. Fifth, it is renewable at low cost, thereby insuring a die having sharp cutting edges. Sixth, it is renewable -even when the die is positioned in areas which are relatively inaccessible. Seventh, it is of'simple construction, and assembleable easily and quickly.

The novel die characterized by the foregoing advantages is described below in connection with the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view inside elevation of the anvil portion of thepresently' described die;

Figure 2 is a view in, end elevation of the anvil portion illustrated in Figure 1; Y

Figure 3 is a view in side, elevation'of the-assembled die incorporating the anvil portionof Figures 1 and2;

Figure 4 is a view in end elevation-of theme-assembly of Figure 3;

nited States Patent G1? 2,821,876 "Fatented Feb. 4, 1958 Figure 5 is a plan view of the die assembly ofJ'Figures 3 and 4;

Figure 6 is a view in side elevation of a modified'die assembly illustrated its manner of operation when used with 'a punch to form integral fasteners through overlying sheets of material;

Figures 7, 8 and 9 are respectively a side elevation, an end elevation and a.plan view of a second modification of the presently describeddie assembly; and

Figures l0, l1 and12iare respectively a'si'de elevation, an end elevation and a plan view of a thirdrnodifica'tion of thepresently described die assembly.

Referring new to Figures l-S inclusive of the drawings:

Thepresently described die assemblybro'adly comprises a body portion, an anvil portion, and cutting elements. The body portion 10 may be of any desired size and shape to suit the operation contemplated and the apparatus employed. In generaL'however it'is substantially cylindrical. The anvil portion 12 extends outwardly from the body portion and has a pair of opposite side faces -14, 16 which are substantially fiat. At the top of the anvil portion is located the Work or anvil surface 18. A pair of recesses 20, 22 are located at the bottom of the anvil preferably at its junction point with the body portion.

Mounted on the anvil portion is a cutting means including cutters 32, 34 which in the embodiment of Figures 1-5 are made of a single piece of die material formed in a reverse bend. The ends of the cutters normally are maintained resiliently spaced apart by anvil TSand are made of a hard material which will retain a cutting edge to form the cutting surfaces 24, 26. The cutting means is dimensioned so that the cutting surfaces arepositioned beyond the plane'of anvil surface 18 a distance suitable for forming fastening elements through pieces of material of the particular gauge contemplated.

The cutters are maintained resiliently against the side faces of the anvil by resilient means which may comprise resilient sections 28, 39 of the bent piece of die material from which the cutters are formed. These sections hold the cutters against the side faces of the anvil in such a manner that they are yieldable laterally as is required during formation of the fasteners.

The cutters are mounted on the anvil by perforating the bent portion of the die material centrally so that it will slip over the anvil. They then are secured in position against both'longitudinal and lateral displacement by fastening means for interengaging them with the anvil. The fastening means employed for securing them against longitudinal displacement may comprise one or more resilient tongues 36, 38 preferably formed integrally from the piece of die material, and bent to engage recesses-20,22 in the anvil.

The fastening means employed to prevent lateral displacement of the cutters in the illustrated form comprises two pairs of tabs or lugs 4-0, 42, 44, 46. These extend inwardly from the top side edges of the cutters, engaging the edges of the anvil. Accordingly, they enclose'or box in the anvil so that the cutters will not become displaced laterally during operation of the die.

The embodiment of the presently described die illustrated in Figure 6 is similar to that illustrated in Figures l-S except that an alternate form of means is illustrated for securing the cutters against longitudinal displacement. In this case the die comprises a body portion 50- having extending outwardly therefrom an anvil portion 52. A pair of cutters 54, 56 are placed against the opposite side faces of the anvil portion. They are formed, as in the previously disclosed embodiment, of a reversely bent or U-shaped piece of die material having cutting surfaces 58, 60 extending above theanvil and resilientse'ctions 62, interconnecting them.

The cutters 54, 56 as well as anvil portions 52, are perforated transversely, however, the perforations being registering when the cutters are in operative position. This affords opportunity for entry of a pinor cotter key 64 which fastens the cutters securely to the anvil and prevents their longitudinal displacement. The lateral displacement of the cutters is prevented, as in the previously described modification, by tabs or lugs 66, 68 extending outwardly from the side edges of the cutters and boxing in the anvil.

The die of Figure 6 is illustrated in conjunction with a punch comprising a body portion 70 and a punch portion 72. The latter has cutting edges dimensioned to cooperate with the cutting edges 58, 60 of the die in forming spaced incisions through overlapped pieces of material 74, 76, in a manner to be described hereinbelow.

Alternate forms of dies which further illustrate the principle of the present invention and which may be used similarly to the dies illustrated in Figures 16 are illustrated in Figures 7-12. In the modification shown in Figures 7-9, the die comprises a body portion 80 having an outwardly extending anvil portion 82. As in the case of the previously described modification the anvil portion has a pair of opposed side faces and a working surface 84. The cutters 86, 88 are formed with the interconnecting springs extending outwardly at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the die.

Accordingly, the cutters may be formed from a piece of flat, tubular, die material having both of the side edges cut away but leaving spring sections 90, 92 interconnecting the bases of the cutters. The latter are so dimensioned that when the die is slipped over the end of the anvil, the cutting edges 94, 96 of the cutters Will extend above the work surface of the anvil the distance required to form fasteners through the work. Securing means then are provided for securing the cutters to the anvil. To this end, the cutters and the anvil are transversely perforated with registering openings which accommodate a pin or cotter key 98. This secures the cutters against longitudinal displacement.

Also, a second fastening means is provided for securing the cutters against lateral displacement. As before, such means comprises a plurality of lugs or tabs 100, 102, 104 and 106 extending inwardly from the upper side edges of the cutters and bent inwardly to engage and enclose the anvil.

The form of the invention illustrated in Figures l2 is adapted for use particularly where the die is applied in a confined space. Accordingly, one side of the cutting means is left open so that it may he slipped over the anvil from the side.

The die of this embodiment comprises a body portion 110 and an anvil portion 112. The anvil portion has a work surface 114 and a pair of opposed side faces 116, 118, at least one of which has a recess 120 running along its base.

Mounted on the anvil is a pair of cutters 122, 124 having cutting surfaces 126, 128. The cutters are interconnected at their base portions by a single spring section 130 which extends outwardly in a direction substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the die. One of the cutters, i. e. cutter 122, has along its lower edge an inwardly extending flange 132 adapted to be contained in recess 120 in the side face 116 of the anvil portion of the die. This locks the cutters against longitudinal displacement.

The cutters may be secured against lateral displacement by the same means employed in the previously discussed embodiments of the invention. Thus there may be provided two opposing pairs of lugs or tabs 134-, 136, 138 and 140, the members of each pair being bent inwardly toward each other, thereby engaging and boxing in the anvil.

The cutters illustrated in Figures l012 may conveniently be blanked from a piece of flat material and formed 4 with the laterally extending, resilient connecting section 130, the cutting edges 126, 128, the retaining lip 132, and the fastening tabs 134, 136, 138 and 140.

The operation of the presently disclosed die is apparent from Figure 6. During use, the overlying pieces of metal, for example, metal sheets 74, 76, are placed between the cutting section 72 of the punch and the anvil section 52 of the die. The punch then is advanced toward the anvil, whereupon it forms a pair of parallel, spaced apart incisions completely through both the overlying pieces of material. The material between the incisions is displaced until it is below the plane of the bottom surface of piece 76. During this process the end sections of the material between the spaced incisions are stretched and deformed to conform to the configuration of the punch.

Further advancement of the punch causes the lateral extrusion of the displaced material against the anvil, the cutters 54, 56 moving outwardly against the tension of their interconnecting resilient sections as required to accommodate the extruded material. As a result there are formed laterally extending keys which fasten the sheets together. Then after the fastener has been formed, the punch is withdrawn from the die and the work removed or advanced, whereupon the cutters snap back into position against the side faces of the anvil ready for another stroke of the punch. During these operations the cutting elements are maintained continuously in operative position against the side faces of the anvil since they are restrained from longitudinal displacement by pin 64 and from lateral displacement by tabs 66, 68.

Thus it will be apparent that by the present invention I have provided a die for form-ing integral fasteners through overlying sheets of material which is efiicient in operation; which has cutting elements which may be changed rapidly and easily as required by the gauge of the work; which provides renewable cutting edges at low cost; the cutting elements of which are replaceable even though the die is used in relatively inaccessible locations; and which, though easily replaceable, is maintained securely against the anvil portion of the die against both lateral and longitudinal displacement. These various advantages are obtained, furthermore, in a die of simple construction which can be manufactured at relatively low cost.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. The die comprising a body portion, an anvil portion extending outwardly from the body portion, the anvil portion having a work surface and a pair of opposed side faces, a one piece cutter including a pair of spaced cutter sections and a resilient interconnecting section, the pair of cutter sections being adapted to rest resiliently against the side faces of the anvil portion with their cutting edges extending beyond the work surface of the anvil, and securing means for securing the cutter on the anvil.

2. The die comprising a body portion, an anvil portion extending outwardly from the body portion, the anvil portion having a work surface and a pair of opposed side faces, a one piece cutter including a pair of spaced cutter sections and a resilient interconnecting section, the pair of cutter sections being adapted to rest resiliently against the side faces of the anvil portion with their cutting edges extending beyond the work surface of the anvil, first fastening means interengaging the cutter and the anvil for securing the cutter against longitudinal displacement, and second fastening means interengaging the cutter and the anvil for securing the cutter against lateral displacement.

3. The die comprising a body portion, an anvil portion extending outwardly from the body portion and having a work surface and a pair of opposite side faces, cutting means comprising a reversely bent piece of die material having its ends maintained spaced apart by the anvil portion, the ends being hard and providing a pair of cutting edges, the bent portion of the cutting means being resilient and providing resilient means for holding the cutting means resiliently against the side faces of the anvil portion, the bent portion being centrally perforated and adapted to seat over the anvil portion with the cutting edges extending beyond the work surface thereof, and securing means for securing the cutters to the anvil portion.

4. The die comprising a body portion, an anvil portion extending outwardly from the body portion and having a work surface and a pair of opposite side faces, cutting means comprising a reversely bent piece of die material, the ends of the piece being hard and providing a pair of cutting edges, the bent portion of the cutting means being resilient and providing resilient means for holding the cutting means resiliently against the side faces of the anvil portion, the bent portion being centrally perforated and adapted to seat over the anvil portion with the cutting edges extending beyond the work surface thereof, first fastening means interengaging the cutting means and the anvil portion for securing the cutting means against longitudinal displacement and second fastening means interengaging the cutting means and the anvil portion for securing the cutting means against lateral displacement.

5. The die of claim 4 wherein the first fastening means comprises a resilient tongue formed integrally from the cutting means and engaging the anvil portion.

6. The die of claim 4 wherein the first fastening means comprises a pin penetrating the cutting means and the anvil portion.

7. The die of claim 4 wherein the second fastening means comprises a plurality of tabs formed integrally from the die material and extending outwardly from the top side edges of the cutting means for enclosing and engaging the anvil portion.

8. The die of claim 4 wherein the first fastening means comprises a pair of resilient tongues formed integrally from the die material and engaging the side faces of the anvil portion, and the second fastening means comprises two pairs of lugs extending outwardly from the side edges of the cutting means, boxing in the anvil portion.

9. The die of claim 4 wherein the first fastening means comprises a pin penetrating the cutting means and the anvil portion and the second fastening means comprises two pairs of lugs formed integrally with the cutting means and extending inwardly from the side edges thereof, boxing in the anvil portion.

10. The die comprising a body portion, an anvil portion extending outwardly from the body portion and having a work surface and a pair of opposed side faces, a pair of cutters adapted to overlie the side faces with their cutting edges extending beyond the plane of the work surface, a pair of resilient connecting elements interconnecting the cutters on opposite sides of the bottoms thereof, and extending at substantially right angles to the longitudinal axis of the die for maintaining the cutters resiliently against the side faces of the anvil, and securing means for securing the cutters to the anvil.

11. The die comprising a body portion, an anvil portion extending outwardly from the body portion and having a work surface and a pair of opposed side faces, a pair of cutters adapted to overlie the side faces with their cutting edges extending beyond the plane of the work surface, a pair of resilient connecting elements interconnecting the cutters on opposite sides of the bottoms thereof, and extending at substantially right angles to the longitudinal axis of the die for maintaining the cutters resiliently against the side faces of the anvil, first fastening means interengaging the cutters and the anvil portion for securing the cutters against longitudinal displacement and second fastening means interengaging the cutters and the anvil portion for securing the cutters against lateral displacement.

12. The die of claim 11 wherein the first fastening means comprise a pin penetrating the cutters and the anvil portion and the second fastening means comprising two pairs of tabs extending inwardly from the side edges of the cutters for engagement with the anvil portion.

13. The die comprising a body portion, an anvil portion extending outwardly from the body portion and having a work surface and a pair of opposed side faces, a pair of cutters adapted to overlie the side faces with their cutting edges extending beyond the work surface, a resilient element interconnecting the bottoms of the cutters on one side only of the die and extending at substantially right angles to the longitudinal axis thereof for maintaining the cutters resiliently clamped against the side faces of the anvil portion, and securing means for securing the cutters on the anvil portion.

References Cited in the fileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 977,178 Ferguson Nov. 29, 1910 2,254,558 Williams Sept. 2, 1941 2,288,308 Williams Jan. 30, 1942 2,671,361 Sandburg Mar. 9, 1954 

